What is Earth Day's Legacy in San Diego?
U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, the Senator from Wisconsin credited with initiating the first Earth Day in 1970 was quoted as saying this:
“Earth Day worked because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. We had neither the time nor resources to organize 20 million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated. That was the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself.”
There is something so compelling about the idea of individuals, schools and communities deciding that they wanted to participate in the first Earth Day to make a statement about the state of the planet. While some critics say that Earth Day has outlived its usefulness, there is evidence all around us in San Diego that individuals, communities, businesses and governments are self-organizing to do good things for our planet, our economy, and our quality of life in San Diego County. Whether that is a legacy of Earth Day or not, Equinox Center is proud that with our local resources of green businesses, innovative municipalities, venture capitalists, universities and philanthropists, San Diego has an unparalleled opportunity to show the way.
Here is a sampling of bright spots within our county that we recently learned about and think are worth mentioning today. There are many more. Equinox Center plans to highlight some of these innovative organizations and others in the coming months. Stay tuned! And Happy Earth Day!
City of Chula Vista’s Appliance Exchange Rebates Program
Green Chamber of San Diego County